Record resurgence: Vinyl records offer nostalgia, new experience
By Amelia Stone, The Archer School for Girls
May 31, 2019
If you find yourself sorting through albums of various music genres as the faded sound of classic rock music plays in the background, you may be at a record shop. While the phonograph, the first version of the vinyl record, was invented in 1877, the style of music listening is making a comeback, as...
Kaushik, Sharma, beat one in a million odds
By Claire Clements, Coppell High School
May 31, 2019
“The probability that a random person in the population could look at your iPhone or iPad Pro and unlock it using Face ID is approximately 1 in 1,000,000 with a single enrolled appearance.” In an article about Face ID, Apple made this claim. Despite this, CHS9 freshmen Umang Kaush...
Harmony Project: Music education program ‘changes the lives’ of underserved children
By Nicki Rosenberg, The Archer School for Girls
May 21, 2019
Margaret Martin had a life-changing experience when a group of Los Angeles gang members approached her 5-year-old son, who was playing his violin at the Hollywood Farmers Market. When the "dangerous-looking" men took a moment to listen and place money in her son's violin case, the Harmony Project founder said she knew that...
True Crime: The fascination with murder and violence
By Audrey Wong and Christy Yu
May 21, 2019
A shiny silver blade catches the viewer’s eyes as he sees the metal weapon drenched in crimson liquid. The liquid now spills everywhere, staining everything with a distinct dark red hue. A thrill of excitement surges through the viewer as he anxiously waits to see what comes next on his favorite show. ...
Magic, Murder and Monsters: How “Game of Thrones” Became a Pop Culture Phenomenon
By Cherise Kim, Cambridge High School
May 20, 2019
If you’ve logged onto any social networking site in the last month, hearing about “Game of Thrones” seems to be inescapable. Discussions about dragons, ice zombies and an iron throne are quickly dominating the pop culture landscape. The eighth and final season of the hit show began airing on...
Instagram museums provide trendy settings for photos
By Kylie Morrison, Hackley School
May 20, 2019
Recently, pictures of colorful places and outrageous art fill most people’s Instagram timelines. Temporary pop-up museums like The Museum of Illusions, Candytopia, and Dream Machine are set up in various highly populated cities at locations that are often discovered through social media. The sprinkle pool at The Museum of Ice Cream ama...
‘Prelude to a Kiss’ marks new beginnings, ends
By Abby Intveld, St. Louis Park High School
May 17, 2019
With her four years of theater coming to a close, senior Zoey Zachek said the spring play indicates the end of her thespian career at Park. “It’s really crazy because I’m one of the seniors who has been in the program all of high school. So to see the different people cycle through and see...
Avengers: Endgame smashes pre-sales records on way to Box Office
By Cody Bowers, Woodside High School
May 16, 2019
Avengers: Endgame, the latest film in the critially acclaimed Marvel Cinematic Universe, has achieved the best pre-sales record of any movie ever and is on course to break many more records after its release. Many fans are eagerly anticipating the new movie’s release on April 26, 2019, which will c...
‘ANONYMOUS’ proves Blackbear deserves to be quite the opposite in the music industry
By Alex Miranda, Downers Grove South High School
May 15, 2019
On April 26, 2019, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Blackbear dropped his fifth studio album “ANONYMOUS” to his long-awaiting fans. Originally scheduled to come out on Valentine's Day, the album was pushed back by Interscope Records after he signed onto the label late last year. Expectations were...
Everything You Missed In Taylor Swift’s “ME!” Music Video
By Taila Lee, Woodside High School
May 15, 2019
Pop star Taylor Swift is back with her new single “ME!” featuring lead singer Brendon Urie from Panic! At The Disco, sending fans to scour her new music video for clues about her seventh album. The music video premiered April 26, 2019, and its 65.2 million views quickly broke YouTube’s record...
Music at Mason: finding a niche
By Sequoia Wyckoff, George Mason High School
May 15, 2019
Senior Claudia Gusman has been a percussionist since eighth grade; Senior Charlotte Crum has been playing saxophone since sixth. They’re both in wind ensemble and have been in the pit orchestra for years. On top of that, Gusman spent two years in Drums class and Crum is in jazz band. “I’m gl...
Artist Spotlight: Matthew Millin
By Clara Koritz Hawkes, Walt Whitman High School
May 15, 2019
When junior Matthew Millin was five years old, he was sure he had stage fright. Even though he’d grown up putting on shows with his cousins for his family—they’d create a makeshift stage out of their grandparents’ brown leather couch and take turns singing songs—he was sure if he tried theater...
Thespians go to state and qualify for nationals
By Liz Blodgett, Tigard High School
May 14, 2019
From the opening lights to the final bow, the Tigard Thespian Troupe stick together through every play, achievement, and competition. This year, 15 members of the troupe had the opportunity to perform at the state competition. The competition, filled with performances, auditions, and learning...
A household in harmony
By Jessica Moonjely, West High School
May 14, 2019
Having a professional musician as a father, it is no surprise that Phoebe Burt ‘21 was humming before she could talk. Phoebe and Kevin Burt discuss how music has helped the two grow more in tune with one another. Standing onstage in front of a growing crowd of people, Kevin “B. F.” Burt is in...
Blindauer and Pisoni to Perform at Muny
By Kayla Schweitzer, Marquette High School
May 14, 2019
This summer, David Pisoni, junior, and Rebecca Blindauer, theater teacher, will be a part of theater productions at the largest outdoor theater in the nation: the St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (Muny). Pisoni was cast as part of the teen ensemble for “Kinky Boots,” one of the several shows the ...
Public Art Sparks National Controversy
By Grace Yarrow, Casa Grande High School
May 9, 2019
In 2005, the Petaluma Public Art Ordinance organized a “master plan” to implement a public art program in Petaluma. 14 years, $150,000, and one Wall Street Journal article later, Petaluma has received national attention for an art project involving five bathtubs on 17 to 23-foot poles. On March 14,...
Grace Kerner sculpts her ‘Simple Love’ of ceramics in senior art show
By Lola Lamberg and Ella Frey
May 1, 2019
The title of Archer senior Grace Kerner's April 11 senior show, "A Simple Love," was inspired by Kerner's passion for the art of ceramics. She has been working with clay for over 10 years. "I called [the show] 'A Simple Love' because I simply love ceramics," Kerner said. "I've been doing [ceramics]...
Review: ‘Shazam!’ shocks audiences with hilarious comedy, relatable characters
By Grant Vogel, Lovejoy High School
April 23, 2019
In DC movies, Superman causes billions of dollars of property damage in literal earth-shaking fight scenes. Aquaman fights poorly animated fish people in epic ”Lord of the Rings”-esque underwater battles. And Batman breaks his only rule in crime fighting by killing criminals in the most brutal, inhumane...
“Nine Perfect Strangers” satisfies, but doesn’t stun
By Eva Shen, Dougherty Valley High School
April 23, 2019
It might not be fair to compare Liane Moriarty’s latest novel to her past bestsellers, but “Nine Perfect Strangers” does not live up to expectations. Despite this, Moriarty manages to shape an enticing story and capture stirring ideas in her words. Moriarty typically shines when it comes to...
Head in the SoundCloud
By Alex Carlon, West High School
April 22, 2019
Disclaimer: some of the songs embedded in this article contain profane lyrics. Drake, Kanye West, Eminem: these are the names that come to mind when one thinks of “rap.” But, over the past few years, a new generation of homegrown hip-hop artists have risen onto the scene. They are known as Sound...
Campoverde wins prestigious Scholastic Gold Medal for artwork
By Jenna Coladarci, Danbury High School
April 19, 2019
Michael Obre has been a Danbury art teacher for 21 years and in that time, he had seen only two Danbury students be recognized nationally with a Scholastic Gold Medal. Now, however, he can add a third name to that list. After much hard work, senior Viviana Campoverde has been awarded a Scholastic Gold Medal for her digital art piece “Flower Child.” Since 1923, according t...
Orchestra student learns composition, pursues career
By Jose Garcia, Akins High School
April 19, 2019
Senior Melaina Newman has dreams to one day compose classical music that inspires other people as much as the great composers that inspire her. Composing is a relatively new endeavor for Newman, who has participated in orchestra four years and marching band two years at Akins. Newman said she felt...
Should Netflix films win Oscars?
By Andy Zabinski, Richard Montgomery High School
April 19, 2019
In the past few years Netflix has become a dominant force in releasing original content that has garnered some success at the Oscars and other award shows, most recently with the film Roma directed by Alfonso Cuarón. However, fan favorite director Steven Spielberg has criticized Netflix’s numerous wins a...
Holmes places first chair in state, keeps up with dynamics of music
By Sofia Guerrero, Coppell High School
April 19, 2019
Coppell High School senior Trevor Holmes sat anxiously in the lobby as he waited for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Convention chair placements to be released. Finally, the results were posted on a board and upon first glance, Holmes quickly found his name at the top, meaning he ...
The Magenta Shift evolves as rising student band
By Simon Beach, Harrisonburg High School
April 18, 2019
The Magenta Shift, formerly known as The Governeers, is the newest start-up band to walk the halls of Harrisonburg High School. The band includes juniors Leif McCoy, Forrest Matter and Declan Leach along with sophomore Stanley Inouye. The group has been together for a while, but has just recently...
Dance on
By Cassie Eskicioglu, Convent of the Sacred Heart High School
April 18, 2019
From late night dance classes to play and musical practices nearly all year round, “Love’s Labour’s Lost” marks the last high school play for one student choreographer and actor. Delaney Tobin began acting in theater in middle school and since then has been in 13 shows ranging from “The...
Khalid Unites His Music With Cinema in “Free Spirit”
By Taila Lee, Woodside High School
April 14, 2019
When I first heard Khalid was making a short film based on his new album, I was instantly intrigued. One night only. In theaters. A fan event. Based on his sophomore album Free Spirit, his film— also titled Free Spirit —was shown in theaters two days before his official album release on April 5. ...
ALBUM REVIEW: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” by Billie Eilish
By Alex Rozar, Lafayette High School
April 14, 2019
On her debut album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?", 17-year-old artist Billie Eilish has proved herself a force to be reckoned with. Wait, what? Yes, you read that right. SEVENTEEN. Despite being younger than many of the students at Lafayette right now, Eilish has 16 million Instagram followers,...
‘Us’ doubles down on mystery and horror
By Ian Fertig, Starr's Mill High School
April 11, 2019
They think like you. They look like you. They want to kill you. When their doubles attack, a family bands together to stay alive. But can they defeat themselves? So goes the plot of “Us,” the second horror/thriller film written and directed by Jordan Peele following the Oscar-nominated “Get...
School hosts “Rushmore” 20th Anniversary Viewing
By Ryan Chang and Megan Chang
April 10, 2019
Between winning the Silver Bear for Best Director for Isle of Dogs and working on The French Dispatch, director Wes Anderson (’87) continues to make a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s most creative, visually distinct filmmakers. For members of the SJS community, the past week also brought ...